Abstract: A solvent extraction composition is provided which comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol and preferably a water immiscible organic solvent. The orthohydroxyarylaldoximes, or orthohydroxyarylketoximes commonly are of Formula (1), wherein R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is an ortho-hydroxyaryl group; and the dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol commonly are of Formula (2), wherein R7 and R8 are each independently an optionally substituted alkyl group; R9 to R20 are each independently hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; m, n and p are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 provided that m+n+p is greater than or equal to 1; and q is 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: A solvent extraction composition is provided which comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes and one or more esters substituted with a hydroxyl group, and preferably a water immiscible organic solvent. The orthohydroxyarylaldoximes, or orthohydroxyarylketoximes commonly have Formula (1), wherein R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is an ortho-hydroxyaryl group; and the esters substituted with a hydroxyl group are of Formula (2), wherein one of R7 or R8 is a substituted hydrocarbyl group with at least one hydroxyl group and the other is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group. Preferred orthohydroxyarylaldoximes are 5-(C9 to C14 alkyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldoximes and preferred orthohydroxyarylketoximes are 5-(C9 to C14 alkyl)-2-hydroxyacetophenone oximes. Preferred esters substituted with a hydroxy group are highly-branched alkyl esters comprising from 5 to 51 carbon atoms, wherein the hydroxy group resides on R8.